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AStern

(214 posts) Wed Apr 2, 2025, 01:50 PM Apr 2

Obama Appointed Judge Allows DOGE to Take Over $500 Million Office Building for Free

Howell indicated Tuesday that she was not yet convinced by either argument. “Ambiguity persists given the paucity of apposite law regarding USIP's proper classification as an ‘independent establishment’ or ‘Government corporation’ that rests outside of or within the executive branch and whether it qualifies as an agency,” she wrote. Howell had previously declined a USIP request for a temporary restraining order that would have reinstated the institute’s board.

Tuesday’s ruling does not mean that some or all of these transfers are necessarily permanent. “This issue will be more fully addressed in the expedited summary judgment briefing being prepared by the parties,” Howell said, suggesting that the fate of USIP property will ultimately be decided along with a larger ruling on whether the board should be reinstated.

Foote says he believes USIP can get the building back if Howell ultimately rules in USIP's favor, although he anticipates challenges even then. “Who knows, they might try to sell the building. They can complicate the title, they can make it very hard for us to fix things,” Foote claims. “That’s something we’ll have to deal with if we get to it.”

Howell’s final ruling in the case is expected to come at the end of April.

https://www.wired.com/story/judge-approves-doge-usip-office-building/

4 replies

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Highlight:

Obama Appointed Judge Allows DOGE to Take Over $500 Million Office Building for Free (Original Post) AStern Apr 2 OP

Here's a couple of paragraphs Tickle Apr 2 #1

It comes down to who has the deed the US taxpayer or some group of individuals Historic NY Apr 2 #2

Outright theft of American property. Irish_Dem Apr 2 #3

I Don't Get It DET Apr 2 #4

Tickle

(4,031 posts)

1. Here's a couple of paragraphs

Reply to AStern (Original post)

Wed Apr 2, 2025, 01:52 PM

Apr 2

The building, with an estimated value of $500 million, has become the latest focal point in a weeks-long standoff between former institute board and staff and members of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. On March 14, the Trump administration fired the USIP’s 10 voting board members. When USIP staffers barred DOGE employees from entering their headquarters in Washington, DC, the DOGE team returned a few days later with a physical key they had gotten from a former security contractor.

The takeover was both physical and institutional. Former State Department official Kenneth Jackson was installed as USIP president, then replaced on March 25 by DOGE staffer Nate Cavanaugh, who had previously been assigned to the General Services Administration. By last Friday evening, most USIP staffers had received termination notices, effectively shuttering the agency.

The fight over the building came to light Monday through court documents in a lawsuit filed by former USIP staffers against Cavanaugh, DOGE, Donald Trump, and other members of the administration. They reveal not only that Cavanaugh recently moved to transfer the building to GSA, but that he planned to do so at no cost to the government.

In a letter included in the court’s docket, Cavanaugh tells GSA acting administrator Stephen Ehikian that the transfer “is in the best interest of USIP, the federal government, and the United States.” In a separate letter, dated March 29, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought approved Ehikian’s request to “set the amount of reimbursement at no cost” for the facility.

Historic NY

(38,876 posts)

2. It comes down to who has the deed the US taxpayer or some group of individuals

Reply to AStern (Original post)

Wed Apr 2, 2025, 02:05 PM

Apr 2

Irish_Dem

(68,614 posts)

3. Outright theft of American property.

Reply to AStern (Original post)

Wed Apr 2, 2025, 03:06 PM

Apr 2

Judges are fine with that.

DET

(1,960 posts)

4. I Don't Get It

Reply to AStern (Original post)

Wed Apr 2, 2025, 04:08 PM

Apr 2

What harm could it possibly do to issue a temporary restraining order until the underlying issues are resolved? What compelling interest could DOGE have in this agency/entity that would require the immediate takeover of the building and firing of management and employees? Of course, that doesn’t address the underlying question of why DOGE should be allowed to invade any Government agency or private enterprise and take over.

This just makes no sense, especially since Judge Howell is no friend of Trump. BTW, the new head of this agency is a 28 year old DOGE software engineer.

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